In one unforgettable week, you’ll weave from Bali’s jungled heartland to Thailand’s electric capital. Begin among Ubud’s rice terraces and temples, chase waterfalls, and hop across to Nusa Penida for manta-filled snorkeling and cliffside viewpoints. Then trade incense for neon in Bangkok—cruising historic canals, touring gilded temples, and tasting the city’s best night-market bites.

Historically Hindu Bali kept its own rhythm after Java turned to Islam; shrines sprout from family courtyards and offerings scent the sidewalks. Bangkok rose along the Chao Phraya River in the 18th century, its royal palaces and monasteries anchoring a metropolis famed for street food and markets. Together they serve a rich mix of nature, spirituality, and urban energy.

Practical notes: Pack lightweight layers and modest temple attire (shoulders/knees covered), carry small cash for markets, and hydrate. Most travelers can obtain Indonesia’s visa-on-arrival and enter Thailand visa-exempt—always check your nationality’s latest rules. For flights, compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.

Ubud

Ubud is Bali’s cultural pulse: temple courtyards blooming with frangipani, artisan workshops, and the verdant amphitheater of Tegallalang’s rice terraces. The town center buzzes with cafés and galleries, yet minutes away you’re on jungle paths with herons, rivers, and village shrines.

Don’t miss the Ubud Monkey Forest, ancient water temples like Tirta Empul, the Campuhan Ridge Walk at golden hour, and market lanes full of hand-carved masks and batik. Food runs from smoky pork satay at warungs to plant-forward raw bowls and third-wave coffee.

• Where to stay (Ubud): Jungle serenity at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan; social, central, and clean at Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel. Browse more stays on VRBO Ubud or Hotels.com Ubud.
• Getting there: Fly into Denpasar (DPS). From many Asian hubs it’s 3–6 hours; from the U.S./Europe, 16–24 hours with connections. Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Airport to Ubud is ~1.5 hours by car.
• Good to know: Temples require sarongs (often loaned on-site). Expect light afternoon showers Nov–Mar; mornings are clearest for terrace views.

Day 1: Arrive in Bali (Ubud check-in, palace walk, sunset ridge)

Afternoon: Land at DPS, transfer to Ubud (~1.5 hours). Check in and decompress with cold coconut water. Stroll Ubud Palace and Pura Taman Saraswati—lotus ponds glowing in late light.

Evening: Sunset on the Campuhan Ridge Walk; it’s breezy, photogenic, and a gentle jet-lag reset. Dinner at Cafe Wayan (classic Balinese nasi campur and banana leaf fish), or Naughty Nuri’s for smoky ribs and martinis. Nightcap at Seniman Coffee Studio (local beans roasted on-site) or try a ginger-lime jamu at Alchemy for a healthy finish.

Day 2: Temples, terraces, and a sacred spring

Morning: Espresso and pastries at Anomali Coffee Ubud, then head out on an all-inclusive private circuit of Ubud’s icons.

Recommended tour: Discover The Best of Ubud: All-Inclusive and Private Guided Tour

Afternoon: Your guide typically covers Ubud Monkey Forest (cheeky macaques and mossy temples), Tegallalang Rice Terrace, and Tirta Empul for a traditional purification ritual. Lunch suggestions between stops: Warung Biah Biah (great small plates), or clear broths and salads at Clear Café.

Evening: Return to town for a Balinese massage (1–1.5 hours). Dinner at Ibu Rai Bar & Restaurant (local curries, grilled seafood) or Casa Luna for duck betutu and spice-rich sambals.

Day 3: Nusa Penida island and manta rays

All day: Early transfer to Sanur for a fast boat to Nusa Penida—expect turquoise water, arching cliffs, and vibrant reefs. This small-group day out includes four snorkel spots (often with manta sightings) plus a land tour to Kelingking’s T-Rex viewpoint and Diamond Beach.

Recommended tour: Nusa Penida day trip: boat, 4 snorkeling, Manta rays & Land tour

Evening: Back in Ubud, hydrate and refuel. Go casual at Warung Pondok Madu (tender pork ribs, mie goreng) or plant-forward at KAFE (bowls, juices). Early night before tomorrow’s flight.

Bangkok

Bangkok—“Krung Thep,” City of Angels—thrums with street food, river life, and royal splendor. Golden chedis pierce the sky, longtail boats zip past stilt houses, and night markets lure with sizzling woks and neon signs.

Top sights include the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha), reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, dawn-lit Wat Arun, and the canals of Thonburi. Food is half the pilgrimage: pad thai and charcoal-fried noodles, mango sticky rice, and Chinatown seafood stalls that cook to order.

• Where to stay (Bangkok): Riverside heritage at The Siam Hotel or Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok; resort feel within the city at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort; excellent-value hostels at Lub d Bangkok Siam or Niras Bankoc Cultural Hostel. Browse more on Hotels.com Bangkok.
• Getting there from Bali (Day 4): Morning nonstop DPS→BKK takes ~4.5–5.5 hours, typically $120–$220 one-way depending on season. Compare on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. In town, use BTS Skytrain/MRT and river boats to skip traffic.
• Good to know: Temples enforce dress codes; carry a light scarf. Cash is king at markets, but cards are widely accepted at malls and many restaurants.

Day 4: Fly to Bangkok, canal cruise, Chinatown flavors

Morning: Depart Bali for Bangkok. On landing, take the Airport Rail Link or taxi to your hotel; drop bags and freshen up.

Afternoon: Drift through Thonburi’s khlongs (canals) by longtail boat—see wooden houses, hidden shrines, and daily river life.

Recommended tour: Bangkok Canal Tour: 2-Hour Longtail Boat Ride

Evening: Dinner in Chinatown (Yaowarat). Try T&K Seafood for wok-tossed pepper crab, Nai Mong Hoi Thod for crisp oyster omelets, and Pa Tong Go for golden donut sticks with pandan custard. Sip a herbal cocktail at Tep Bar (live traditional music) or a G&T at Teens of Thailand.

Day 5: Grand Palace, Wat Pho & Wat Arun, river night cruise

Morning: Early start to beat heat and crowds at the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Continue to Wat Pho for the 46-meter reclining Buddha and the birthplace of Thai massage.

Recommended tour: Bangkok Heritage Tour: Grand Palace, Three Temples & River Cruise

Afternoon: Cross the river to Wat Arun; climb the steep porcelain-spangled prang for views. Lunch nearby at The Deck (river views and tom yum) or eat like locals at Thai Wang for boat noodles. Coffee at Blue Whale (butterfly pea latte) before a siesta or spa.

Evening: Cruise the Chao Phraya with dinner, city lights gliding by Wat Arun and the palace walls.

Recommended experience: The Newest Luxury 5 Star Bangkok Chaophraya Dinner Cruise

Day 6: Railway & floating markets, tuk-tuk night food tour

Morning: Beat the sun to Maeklong Railway Market to watch vendors whisk awnings aside as the train inches through. Continue to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market for colorful canalside stalls—try boat noodles and grilled river prawns.

Recommended tour: Half-Day Railway Market and Floating Market Tour in Thailand

Afternoon: Return to Bangkok. Rest by the pool or hunt Thai crafts at Chatuchak (weekends) or ICONSIAM’s indoor “floating market.” Coffee fix at Gallery Drip Coffee near the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre.

Evening: Hop into a tuk-tuk and eat your way across the city after dark—temples glow, markets hum, and the flavors pop from Chinatown to Old Town.

Recommended experience: Bangkok by Night: Temples, Markets and Food Tuk-Tuk Tour

Day 7: Slow morning, last tastes, depart

Morning: Old-town breakfast at On Lok Yun (buttery toast, soft eggs, Thai coffee) or brunch at Roast (ricotta pancakes, strong espresso). If time allows, browse Jim Thompson House for silk and architecture or spin through a neighborhood wet market for snacks to take home.

Afternoon (departure): Check out and head to the airport. If you have extra time before your flight, a final bowl of boat noodles or mango sticky rice near your hotel is the right goodbye.

Bangkok dining short list (save for any night)

• Thipsamai (since 1939): charcoal-fried pad thai wrapped in egg with sweet-sour tamarind punch.
• Som Tam Nua: som tam papaya salads, fried chicken, sticky rice—quick, bold, addictive.
• Jay Fai (book or queue): crab omelet and drunken noodles from Bangkok’s most famous street-side wok.
• Err Urban Rustic Thai: playful, punchy Thai plates and good cocktails in Old Town.
• After You: Thai-style kakigori and the signature Shibuya honey toast for a sweet send-off.

Optional add-ons if you extend

• Uluwatu sunset and Kecak dance (Bali): Cliff-top temple, ocean horizon, and a fiery chorus performance, followed by grilled seafood on Jimbaran Beach. Consider: Uluwatu Sunset, Kecak Dance, and Dinner Jimbaran Beach

  

• Elephant sanctuary (Phuket/Chiang Mai alt): If routing to Phuket or Chiang Mai on another trip, ethical visits like the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary offer thoughtful encounters: A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

  

Getting between cities and booking tips

• Flights: For DPS→BKK, expect morning departures and ~5 hours gate-to-gate. Search and book on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.
• Where to sleep (quick picks): Ubud: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan or Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel. Bangkok: The Siam Hotel, Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort, or budget-friendly Lub d Bangkok Siam.
• Flex your days: If you prefer beaches to Bangkok, swap in Phuket for Days 4–7 and consider a Phi Phi islands trip like this small-group favorite: Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip w/ Seaview Lunch

  

In a single week you’ll feel Bali’s temple calm and Bangkok’s kinetic sparkle—the incense, the neon, the sound of water on stone and woks on flame. It’s a classic Southeast Asia pairing: nature and craft in Ubud, history and high energy in Bangkok, stitched together with great food and warm hospitality.